Apparatus for softening yarn



March 31, 1925. 1,531,436

B. GIBBS APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING YARN Filed March 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1925. 1,531,436

B. GIBBS APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING YARN Filed March 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '12 23 24 V V .7 4. A i WM hwunmm U r 25 l l H i:- .1 25

I J 1 E Patented Mar. 31, 1925. I

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN GIBBS, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING YARN.

App1ication filed March 52, 1924. Serial No. 701,130.

I llv State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Softening Yarn, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for treating artificial silk, worsted, or cotton yarn with steam as it passes from the bobbin or cone to a knitting machine, the purpose being to soften the silk or yarn just prior to its utilization by the machine.

1 The invention contemplates the provision of a steam box, drum, or shell through which the silk or yarn is adapted to pass,.1neans being provided for admitting steam to the box, drum or shell and for taking off the water of condensation. The apparatus also contemplates the provision of improved guiding means for the silk or yarn whereby it will be kept out of contact with the box, shell or drum and, also, guarded against access thereto of the Water of condensation from the steam.

The steam is admitted to the box in such fashion that it will not directly blow upon the silk or yarn and thus the latter is prevented from being blown out of place.

To afford access to the interior of the box, shell, or drum, a door or closure is provided and, to prevent condensation from the steam having access to the joint or hinges of the door, means is provided for deflecting such condensation a's runs down on the inside of the box, shell, or drum. To catch condensation on the outside of the box, shell, or drum, or such condensation as may result from es- 40 cape of steam around the door or closure, so

that this condensation cannot drain down and have access to the yarn, an improved drip catcher or trough is provided on the outside of the box, drum, or shell. I

The apparatus is provided with a guide, preferably in the form of a roller of glass or non-metallic material, over which the yarn runs as it emerges from the box. A

The apparatus may be arranged to treat a single strand of yarn, or a plurality of strands, as may be desired.

1am aware that modifications may be resorted to in carrying out the principle of the invention and furthermore, that the apparatus may be differently arranged or disposed in respect to the cones or bobbins and the knittlng apparatus; therefore, I do not hmit the invention to the details of construction hereinafter described and Which are shown in the accompanying drawings nor to the manner of mounting the apparatus, except as specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Flgure 1 is a perspective view of one type of circular knittlnp; machine, shown in light lines, equlpped with my improved appai'atus, the latter being disclosed in heavy mes.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus when constructed to treat a plurality of yarns. v

lig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; an

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a modification which is adapted to treat a single strand of yarn.

In Figure l I have shown one type of circular knitting machine in light lines to illustrate the manner in which my improved apparatus may bemounted on a knita0 ting machine. It is obvious, however, that the invention is not restricted to use with this particular type of knitting machine nor to being mounted in the manner shown, but the apparatus is well suited to being s0 located that the strands of yarn from the different bobbins or cones may have a more or less short or direct path to the knitting apparatus.

The frame of the knitting machine appears at 1, the cones or bobbins of yarn are shown at 2, and the circular knitting ap paratus appears at 3, part of the tubular fabric being knitted appearing at 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my improved apparatus is constructed to treat four yarns simultaneously, the steam boxes or shells 5 being mounted on the frame 1 as, for instance, by' legs 6 which are secured to the box 5 at their upper ends and bolted or 109 screwed to the frame 1 at their lower ends as shown at 7 The yarns risingfrom the bobbins. or cones 2, pass through the box 5 where they are softened b their contact with the steam therein, and they then pass to the knitting apparatus 3 to be knit into the tubular fabric 4.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the box, shell, or drum 5 may be of any shape but as shown it is elongated, of metal, preferably copper, and has any suitable coupling 8 for the attachment of a pipe leading from a su table source of steam supply. The steam is delivered to the interior of the box 5 by a downwardly pointing nozzle 9 which directs the steam to the bottom of the box from which it spreads throughout the box without directly impinging on the yarns 10 and thus the yarns are prevented from being blown about in the box.

The water of condensatlon passes out through the nipple or outlet 11 which 15 locarted substantially at the bottom of the box 5 so that there will be easy drainage. Any

steam which does not condense may pass out.

through nipple 11.

Theyarns 10 being taken off the cones or bobbins 2 pass through upper and lower guides 12, 13, carried by the top and bottom of box 5. These guides are of porcelaln or other suitable non-metallic material and are in the form of eyes of suitable internal diameter to afford free passage for the yarn. It is only necessary to have a single eye at the top of the box 5 for each strand but at the bottom of the box, to prevent access of the water of condensation to the yarn, the

guide should be elongated so that the yarn will emerge at a point well above the bottom of the box. A convenient construction to accomplish this purpose comprises a metallic tube 14: secured to, and rising from, the-bottom of the box, and upper and lower porcelain guides or eyes 15. It is within the spirit of the invention to provide a single porcelain eye or guide, of elongated form, in lieu of the tube 14 and eyes 15 and to suitably secure same to the bottom of the box 5 so that water cannot escape at this point and have access to the yarn.

The box 5 is provided with a door or closure 16 for a suitable opening 17 through which access may be had through the interior of the box. The door is carried by hinges 18 and is held in closed position by turn buttons or catches 19. To guard the hinged joint made by the door with the box, so that condensation on the inside of said door will run off, the door is provided on its inside with an inclined deflector or shelf 20 located above the hinges.

To take care of condensation on the outside of the door and upper part of the box and such as results from escape of steam around the door 16 so that this condensation cannot run down the side of the box and across the bottom thereof and have access to the yarn 10, there is provided an inclined trough 21 on the outside of the box and a draining port 22 is provided to drain the condensation water back into the inside of the box.

The yalrns 10 after emerging from the guides or eyes 12, run over a non-metallic tubular roller, preferably of glass, 23, which is mounted on a rod 24 carried by ears 25. The yarn then passes to the knitting machine.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an embodiment of the invention adapted to treat a single yarn, instead of a plurality of yarns. The construction embodies the same features as those previously described. The shell 5 may be circular or rectangular in cross section.

While I have referred to steam as the softening agent, nevertheless when using this word in the claims, I wish it to be understood that vapor and suitable moist air, are to be included, insofar as adapted to carry out the purpose of the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a box, shell, or drum, means for the upper part of the box, a yarn guide in the lower part of the box, a door or closure for the box, and means on the outside of the box to catch condensation below the closure.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a box, shell, or drum, means for admitting steam to the box, a yarn guide in the upper part of the box, a yarn guide in the lower part of the box, a door or closure for the box, and means on the outside of the box to catch condensation below the closure, means being provided to return to the interior of the box the water of condensation caught by the aforesaid means.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a box, shell, or drum, means for admitting steam to the box, a ya rn guide in the upper part of the box, and a yarn guide in the lower part of the box, a door or closure for said box, said door being provided on its inside with a shelf or deflector to prevent the water of condensation on the inside of the door from having access to the lower part of the door.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprlsmg a box, shell, or drum, means for admitting steam to the box, a. yarn guide in the upper part of thebox, a yarn guide in the lower part of the box, a door or closure for said box, means on the inside of the box for preventing condensation from having access to the lower part of the door, and means on the outside of the box for catching gondensation below the lower part of the oor.

5. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a box, shell, or drum, means for admitting steam to said box, means for guidadmitting steam to the box, a yarn guide in v ing the yarn in its passage through the box,

and a roller carried by said box over which the yarn may pass after emergence from the 6. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a box, shell, or drum, means for admitting steam tosaid box, means for guiding the yarn in its passage through the box, and a non-metallic roller carried by said box over which the yarn may pass after emer- 10 gence from the box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN GIBBS. 

